Accuracy Rates of Ancestry Estimation by Forensic Anthropologists Using Identified Forensic Cases

Connie L. Parks · Adam H. Richard

32 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Forensic Sciences

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Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies Forensic and Genetic Research Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies

Abstract

A common task in forensic anthropology involves the estimation of the ancestry of a decedent by comparing their skeletal morphology and measurements to skeletons of individuals from known geographic groups. However, the accuracy rates of ancestry estimation methods in actual forensic casework have rarely been studied. This article uses 99 forensic cases with identified skeletal remains to develop accuracy rates for ancestry estimations conducted by forensic anthropologists. The overall rate of correct ancestry estimation from these cases is 90.9%, which is comparable to most research-derived rates and those reported by individual practitioners. Statistical tests showed no significant difference in accuracy rates depending on examiner education level or on the estimated or identified ancestry. More recent cases showed a significantly higher accuracy rate. The incorporation of metric analyses into the ancestry estimate in these cases led to a higher accuracy rate.

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References

1963The human skeleton in forensic medicine 1998Forensic Osteology: Advances in the Identification of Human Remains 1970Personal identification in mass disasters 2008New perspectives in forensic anthropology 2009Forensic Anthropology: Contemporary Theory and Practice 1984Human Identification: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology 2009Cranial Nonmetric Variation and Estimating Ancestry*2009Understanding race and human variation: Why forensic anthropologists are good at identifying race

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